Paul said Friday in an interview set to air on CNN's "John King, USA" he disavowed the ad, but that he couldn't control the actions of every one of his supporters.

"Of course I disavow him and he shouldn't do it, because you have one out of how many, a couple hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, I don't know how many people we have, because one does that, to bring that up just doesn't sound like a fair thing to do," Paul said. "Of course I denounce it, I couldn't even hear it, haven't looked at it, but people do that, and they do it in all campaigns."

Paul continued, "So obviously I just disavow him and try to go on and do the thing I'm supposed to do."

The full interview with Paul airs on CNN at 6 p.m. ET.

The web ad from the group, New Hampshire Liberty 4 Ron Paul, takes aim at Huntsman's ambassadorship in China, his ability to speak Mandarin, and even his adopted daughter, Gracie Mei, who is Chinese. The spot closes with an image of Huntsman dressed as China's communist leader Mao Zedong.

After a speech Friday, Huntsman told reporters Paul should disavow the ad.

"If the group is in any way affiliated with his organization of course he should," Huntsman said.

"It's just political campaign nonsense. It happens from time to time," he added.

In his remarks, Huntsman described how Gracie Mei was found abandoned in a vegetable market in China and taken to an orphanage shortly after she was born 12 years ago.

Gracie Mei, who is now 12, is a fixture on the Huntsman campaign. The GOP contender often endearingly refers to her as his top foreign policy adviser.

"And now she's in my family," Huntsman said.

Polls show Huntsman, Paul, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich are all in a battle for second place in the upcoming New Hampshire primary.

Sounds like an interesting KR trick to get others fighting while his man sails untouched and unsoiled....

January 6, 2012 02:07 pm at 2:07 pm |

NAMBLA 4 Obama

President Obama 2012 !!!!! The North American Man/Boy Love Association is with you Mr.President. We don't want the GOP telling us what we can do in our bedroom!

January 6, 2012 02:10 pm at 2:10 pm |

Mikey

The ad was totally disgusting and racist. You have to assume the Paul campaign didn't do it. You also have to assume that one of his supporters did. Shouldn't we be able to find out who did it?

As far as the Ron Paul supporters trying to claim it was some sort of conspiracy against him – if it is, which I certanly don't believe, I would suspect the GOP establishment first or another GOP candidate, not the MSM or liberals. Don't forget what Carl Rove and George Bush did to McCain in South Carolina in 2000 – a disgusting racist slime job.

As an Obama supporter, Ron Paul is one of my top choices for GOP nominee. I still have to say of the Paul crowd, you all have passion – you're quite wacky, but you do have passion.

January 6, 2012 02:11 pm at 2:11 pm |

Jules Mirror

Jules: You sound pretty hateful yourself.

January 6, 2012 02:12 pm at 2:12 pm |

Mark Smith

How can CNN even report this without verifying who posted the video? What if it's a false flag planted by someone for Huntsman? Why would anyone for Paul bother taking aim at Huntsman when he's trailing the pack? It makes no sense, and it's shameful for you to report this without the facts!!

January 6, 2012 02:31 pm at 2:31 pm |

John Deal

John Huntsman is the new Karl Rove. His campaign made this until anyone can prove otherwise. Typical Rove move – pretend your opponent is attacking you to get more publicity. No one cares one bit about Huntsman and this is amateur at best. I hope someone, someday really does pull off a Rove move on Huntsman. I love it when these turds get some of their own medicine.

January 6, 2012 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |

Jen

When Paul talks about the federal reserve, he reminds me of the preacher guy who keeps changing the date for the end of the world. It is all hogwash. So for years now he has been saying we will have massive inflation and rising interest rates and to buy gold – when the fed has been actually fighting against deflationary pressures. So maybe next year, Paul? What is the new date for this phony baloney prediction, because real trends show interest rates and prices will rise only with increased demand (supply and demand scenario) likely fueled from a recovery and any resetting by the fed. I can't believe those who have been following him for years still believe in this stuff.

January 6, 2012 02:32 pm at 2:32 pm |

Mike

@Mikey Look it was a brand new youtube account with that being the only video with a ron paul user name. I work with thousands of grassroots supporters everyday and have been for the last 5 years. This was NOT from a Ron Paul supporter.

I mean if its really that easy, that means I could just go and make a nasty video about Ron Paul and with a Santorum user name. Now tell me who do you honestly think is going to get the blame? Santorum? Hell no, the MSM will come back and blame it on a crazy Ron Paul supporter.

There is a blatantly obvious bias against Ron Paul in the media from both the right and the left. Most haters even admit that.

January 6, 2012 02:33 pm at 2:33 pm |

steve harnack

Hey you Ron Paul disciples, is there anything that you don't whine about or accuse of being a conspiracy? And is there anything that Ron Paul actually IS responsible for?